According to Ian Rapoport, the Bengals will be franchise tagging WR Tee Higgins.
This move has been expected for some time. Higgins and the Bengals have been and will continue to negotiate a long term deal. However, using the franchise tag will prevent them from losing him for nothing as an unrestricted free agent.
Higgins was originally a 2nd round pick by the Bengals in 2020. As his rookie year went on, he began to establish himself as a playmaker on offense. His success continued into the next season, where he was a big part of the team’s run to the Super Bowl. Though injuries have impacted him lately, Higgins has proven to be a high end contributor in the passing game, when on the field.
There are a few different designations to choose from when using the franchise tag. In all likelihood, the Bengals will use the non-exclusive franchise tag. This would allow Higgins to negotiate with other teams. If he were to sign an offer sheet from another team, the Bengals would have 5 days to either match the offer or let him go and receive 2 1st round picks in compensation. But in this case, an offer sheet is unlikely.
The Bengals will continue to negotiate a long term deal with Higgins, as the extension deadline for players on the tag doesn’t come until July. Perhaps they will listen to trade offers too. If a long term deal is not reached, Higgins would make just over $21.8M on a 1 year deal by playing on the tag. Most notably, S Jessie Bates played for the Bengals on the tag in 2022.
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